President Manuel Zelaya (left) has left Washington bound for Honduras, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro told local media here on Sunday. -- PHOTO: AFP
TEGUCIGALPA - MILITARY vehicles blocked the runway to prevent ousted President Manuel Zelaya from landing in Honduras on Sunday, shortly after troops clashed with his supporters, killing two, according to police.
Tension ramped up in Honduras
Interim leader Roberto Micheletti ramped up tensions on Sunday by alleging that Nicaraguan troops were moving toward the countries' joint border, a claim Nicaraguan military immediately denied.
'We have been informed that in the sector of Nicaragua, some troops are moving toward the border,' Mr Micheletti said in a televised news conference.
SAN SALVADOR - OUSTED Honduran President Manuel Zelaya arrived in El Salvador late on Sunday for talks with the head of the Organisation of American States and other regional leaders.
He was due to meet here with OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza and Presidents Cristina Kirchner of Argentina and Rafael Correa of Ecuador, the presidency announced.
Mr Zelaya attempted his return to the crisis-gripped nation one week after he was kicked out of power, as tensions reached breaking point, with tens of thousands of his supporters massed at the heavily-militarized airport.
Shortly afterwards his plane landed in Nicaragua, officials in El Salvador said, adding that he was later due to arrive in San Salvador.
Troops fired tear gas and shot on angry protesters trying to break into airport, killing two and injuring at least two others, police said, ahead of Mr Zelaya's much-anticipated arrival.
In a dramatic climax to the day's tensions, at least half a dozen military vehicles from the same army that sent Mr Zelaya away in his pajamas one week ago blocked the runway as Mr Zelaya's plane circled overhead.
Mr Zelaya spoke live from the airplane on Venezuela's Telesur television, rebroadcast on CNN in Spanish.
'I'm doing everything I can,' Mr Zelaya said. 'If I had a parachute I would immediately jump out of this plane.' Mr Zelaya said he would denounce the situation in Honduras to the international community.
'From tomorrow the responsibility will fall on the powers, particularly the United States,' Mr Zelaya added.
Mr Zelaya was due to join the presidents of Argentina, Ecuador and Paraguay, who shortly beforehand landed in El Salvador, according to local press, along with the head of the Organization of American States, Mr Jose Miguel Insulza.
The pan-American OAS suspended Honduras in an emergency session the previous night, after the interim leaders refused to reinstall Mr Zelaya. -- AFP
